Chelsea XI vs Nottingham Forest: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

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·1 Mei 2026

Chelsea XI vs Nottingham Forest: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

Key duo could return for big clash in race for Europe

Calum McFarlane has revealed Reece James and Levi Colwill could be passed fit in time to be involved for Chelsea against Nottingham Forest.

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The Blues players were handed three days off after last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final win against Leeds but have since returned to first-team training, with James and Colwill involved.

A late call will be made on whether they can feature against Forest.

Colwill has not played any minutes for the first team this season after an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in the club’s very first pre-season training session.

James had been fit all season but then picked up a hamstring injury in March’s defeat at home to Newcastle and since been recovering for six weeks.

McFarlane said the pair could “potentially” be in the squad for Monday’s game at Stamford Bridge. “Reece is back in training, Levi is back in training - both looking good,” he said. “We've got a little way away from the game [on Monday], so both are looking good. We’ll see how it goes.”

Asked whether one was ahead of the other, he said: “Not really. We’re taking it day by day. Reece had a really good run and got injured but is looking good.”

McFarlane is expected to go strong with his line-up for the visit of in-form Forest.

Malo Gusto could drop to the bench if James is fit enough to start.

The interim head coach has a decision to make out wide, where he could select Cole Palmer on the right wing or could instead persist with Pedro Neto on that flank and use Palmer centrally.

McFarlane may use Romeo Lavia alongside Moises Caicedo or could instead pick Andrey Santos as the Ecuadorian’s midfield partner.

Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Joao Pedro

Doubts: James, Colwill